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Yes, Netflix’s “Hit Man” is loosely based on the true story of Gary Johnson, a man who posed as a contract killer for the Houston police during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Director Richard Linklater stumbled upon Johnson’s remarkable story in a 2001 Texas Monthly article penned by Skip Hollandsworth. The filmmaker had previously adapted another Hollandsworth piece for his 2011 film “Bernie,” but struggled to find a central narrative for the film until he met Glen Powell.
Together, Linklater and Powell crafted “Hit Man,” which debuted on Netflix on June 7 after a limited theatrical release. The film centers on one particular episode from Johnson’s life, where he declines to set up a police sting to ensnare a woman who has hired him to kill her abuser, leading to a complex romantic entanglement.
While “Hit Man” takes inspiration from Johnson’s story, there are significant departures from reality in the film. Johnson, a real-life college professor, worked undercover as a fake hitman for the city’s police force. He became renowned for his ability to convincingly portray various personas and successfully gather evidence leading to numerous arrests.
Despite some fictionalized elements, “Hit Man” explores themes of identity, deception, and passion, as Powell’s character navigates a web of relationships and moral dilemmas. While the film offers a captivating glimpse into Johnson’s world, it also presents a creative interpretation of his intriguing life story.